Page 287
“Just observing.”
“Now?”
“Especially now.”
And there.
For one second, we're us.
Whatever the fuck us is.
Three stalks. Three roots. One plant.
Malakai grabs the soil and digs fast. His hands disappear into the black Earth, cursing the deeper he gets.
“Kai?”
“The roots aren't going down.”
My stomach drops.
“Where are they going?”
He looks at me.
Of course.
“Fuck.”
The altar explodes and the roots wrap around my waist making me scream.
Ezra grabs one.
Rhett grabs another.
Malakai slams both palms against the soil. “STOP!”
The Earth listens and everything freezes.
Malakai stares at his hands. So do I.
He said stop. And it stopped.
Rhett notices. “Well.”
Malakai looks at me. “The field answers me.”
“Because you're Rooted.”
“Yes.”
“Can you control it?”
“I don't know.”
“Try.”
He closes his eyes and the roots loosen.
